How well does Green MP Julie Anne Genter know the economy?

Julie Anne Genter, Green Party list MP and transport spokesperson, at Parliament, Wellington, for the Summer Herald series Meet the Backbenchers. 9 December 2014 New Zealand Herald Photograph by Mark

The choice of Green MP Julie Anne Genter for the hefty finance portfolio raised a few eyebrows.

The second-term MP is well qualified for the role. She has a background in economics and has spent four years as Russel Norman's understudy.

But new co-leader James Shaw, a former businessman who was elected on a platform of economic credibility, appeared to be a natural choice for the job.

By giving him the economic development portfolio, the Greens are effectively conceding that they will not compete for the finance minister position in any eventual coalition deal with Labour.

Even Ms Genter - who is a keen cyclist and knows transport data and urban planning inside out - admits she would rather be transport minister than finance minister.

Asked about the portfolio reshuffle, she said: "James has really got a business background, whereas my background is a little bit close to the finance role, in terms of economic evaluation of projects. I'm very much a numbers person."

For now, finance appeals to her because "that's where the decisions about priorities get made".

She has no immediate plans to shake up the portfolio or roll out new policy. Her goals at this stage are broad. She wants a fairer, simpler tax system which requires the rich to pay their "fair share", and she wants measures of economic growth to better reflect costs to the environment - in particular, carbon pollution.

Pop quiz

What is the official cash rate?
Julie Anne Genter: 3.25 per cent
Answer: 3.25 per cent

What is the unemployment rate?
Genter: It's just under 6 per cent. Is it 5.8 per cent?
Answer: 5.8 per cent

How much did the economy grow in the last year?
Genter: It's around 3 per cent.
Answer: 2.6 per cent

How much did the economy grow in the last quarter?
Genter: It's just over 3 per cent.
Answer: 0.2 per cent

What is the inflation rate?
Genter: It's very low. It's about 0.3 per cent.
Answer: 0.3 per cent.

Her financial hero is American Herman Daly, who was one of the first economists to talk about the incompatibility of infinite economic growth in a finite world.

"The traditional economic model doesn't take into account the biophysical limits of the planet," she said.

"Once you take into account the fact that the planet is a closed system, energy-wise, and the economy is an open system, you can't have infinite growth. At some point the cost of pollution and non-renewable resource extraction outweigh the benefits."

Ms Genter plans to spend the next few weeks looking over financial reports, talking to economists and swotting up to take on Bill English in the House.

"I believe his heart's in the right place," Ms Genter said of the Finance Minister.

"But I think that the National Party as a whole is about protecting and preserving the status quo."